Self-Study Booklet Implementation Manual
The Manual presents guidelines for organizations interested to implement Gender Action Learning System (GALS) tools in the form of self-study Booklet with their female clients. It is based on the experience gained during the implementation 2-years project in Azerbaijan by the MFC, AMFA and Vision Fund AzerCredit.
The Manual is especially recommended for those microfinance institutions which target women (or plan to target women) and their portfolio of clients include significant number of female clients.
The Manual is available here
To read more about project implementation and results, click here
Self-Empowerment Booklet
As a result of the Gender Mainstreaming in ECA Project, a Self-Empowerment Booklet was designed in two language versions. The Booklet is a ready-to-use tool in form of a brochure, containing entertaining life planning exercises (situated in the in the context of business improvement) and examples of some success stories of clients using life planning tools. The Booklet can be used for individual reflection on life goals or for work on organising of female self-help study groups and counseling services.
It cam be downloaded below in pdf format:
Client success stories
Under the framework of the Gender in ECA Project, in October 2010, the workshop aiming at discussing the results of the GALS tools test by both the staff and clients of AzerCredit, MFI being one of the Project Partners, took place. The staff and clients, who were most successful in using the life planning tools, were invited to attend the workshop.
During the workshop, the key success stories from using the tools were identified and documented. A brochure with client success stories can be downloaded from here:
GALS Tools users success stories.pdf (204 Kb)
The key findings from the workshop are the following:
- Among the group of trained clients (during the first workshop), some used the tools to introduce sever changes in their lives. Still, for many participants their thinking about relationships between women and men changed. Often the discovery of the need to manage own life was highlighted.
- In case of most people, the awareness on gender issues was raised, although it was not followed by any action;
- Those participants, who actively participated in the training and liked the tools (and experienced value added), shared them (all or selected tools) with family and/or business peers;
- Most people enjoy planning tools, as they can use them for their business improvement.
